It’s been believed for quite some time among the tech community that Google is trying to create an Office rival (disclaimer: I own GOOG stock). I haven’t read Google anywhere own up to this as one of their goals somewhere official though, have they?

To date there hasn’t been a single Google product that ties in all of Google’s Office-like components: Gmail, Spreadsheets, Writely, GTalk, but Information Week is saying this will start to change:

Google this week will launch Google Apps for Your Domain, a software bundle aimed at small and midsize companies. The free, ad-supported package combines Google’s E-mail, calendar, and instant messaging with Web site creation software. It will be hosted in Google’s data center, branded with customers’ domain names, and packaged with management tools for IT pros.

Google’s famous price: ad-supported. The interesting parts of the article for me were that the guess is Google’s strategy will not be to go head to head against Office products, IE. comparing Writely to Word. It will be to present the Google products as collaboration tools. It would seem Google wants to target teams and not individuals. This leaves a huge hole for Microsoft to continue to dominate, despite their being alternatives like Open Office.

Google Apps for Your Domain signup form

One of the fast tracks to webmasters hearts is to make products and services they can use on their own domain that they can control and with the fewest restrictions as possible, particularly when it comes to commercial activity. It’s much, much harder to get people to use a third party domain for any long term serious projects. Of course some will, just look at the many TypePad bloggers out there, but those who have been burned by third party hosted sites in the past are much less excited about using them in the present.

And the article continues with what Google will (might?) do later this year (emphasis mine):

That’s the first step. Later this year, Google plans to add its Writely word processor and Google Spreadsheets to the suite, build online collaboration features that work across its applications, and market the whole package to large companies for a fee. Google will include IT-friendly features such as APIs, directory-server integration, guaranteed performance levels, and telephone tech support.

Has Google included telephone support for any of their products to date? I’m sure they have for the Google Mini and enterprise search, but for any other products/services? Their level of support for their existing products has been basically: join the groups and find the answer yourself, these are free services. Sending customers to the Groups wolves really isn’t a way to endear them to your heart.

Analytics on adult sites
Recently I had a question about using Google Analytics to track traffic on adult websites. Nowhere on the site or in the Analytics Terms Of Service did it specify whether this was ok or not, so I used the contact form to email Google about the problem. The first thing I received, immediately, was an automated response which tried to send me back to the forums and FAQ page for Google Analytics. I replied to that automated message and essentially said, no, I’ve already tried there.

A week or so later I received an email from a human being at Google saying the following:

Thank you for your email. Using Analytics on sites with adult content does not represent a violation of the terms of service you signed when setting up your account. Please feel free to install Analytics on your site.

What do adult sites have to do Office?
A lot, actually. Google has taken a more proactive and liberal standpoint on adult sites than Microsoft. Blogger allows adult sites, at least softcore ones. I still can’t use my Live Spaces blog for anything adult without violating their TOS or use on my own domain nearly two years later. Live Spaces product manager Mike Torres stopped by to comment that he already has his domain purchased and will be just as anxious to see this feature.

Meanwhile, you have Google about to release something this week that will let you use their tools on your own domain and there TOS doesn’t specifically exclude adult sites, at least that I can see. If it’s Adsense supported than that would be the rub, since Adsense currently cannot be used on adult sites.

This passage in the Google Apps for Your Domain TOS might be helpful:

3.3.1 Appropriate Customer Content. Customer agrees that all Customer Content is the sole responsibility of Customer. Google reserves the right, but shall have no obligation, to pre-screen, refuse or move any Customer Content available via the Start Page Service. Without limiting the foregoing, Google and its designees shall have the right to remove any Customer Content or other content that violates this Agreement or is otherwise objectionable. Customer understands that by using the Start Page Service, that Customer and End Users may be exposed to content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable, and that Customer and its End Users use the Start Page Service at their own risk.

Will Microsoft compete with Google on this front in an ad-supported model? Whether you like or dislike adult sites personally, there is a ton of money being generated in that side of the web. Google is more quietly embracing or at least tolerating this business in at least some areas while Microsoft is saying: sure, if you buy our overpriced software and exchange server, you can do whatever you want on your own intranet and no way, not at all in your Live Space.

Long time Hmm readers might remember that sex was one of the eight suggestions I made for how Microsoft could better compete against Google search and Adsense. It is also one significant way they can better compete with Google on the collaboration front.

Let’s say Google decides that adult sites won’t be allowed with their Google Apps for Your Domain, then this presents a huge opportunity for Microsoft to roll out Live Office for your Domain and allow adult content.

I suspect most of the debate out there will be on whether or not the Google products really compete against Office in their current state, but that’s a tired, played out argument. When you start talking about web functionality and programs that run on our own domains, it becomes more a matter of who has the most flexible and liberal terms of service policy. Past and current history suggests that Google will be more likely to be the victor in the TOS comparison.

Google Apps for Your Domain thank you for signing up, we’ll let you know result page

Google Apps for Your Domain is not in open beta status yet. Google will be choosing which sites/companies can participate. Soon, hopefully.

• Microsoft Office Live invite arrives, can’t get past CC signup screen
• Microsoft goes Live with search, gets sexier, drops extraneous Windows
• Google to expand email services?
• Bush administration wants brakes put on .xxx domains
• Google Analytics for free
• Adult gada.be coming?